Massage therapy is the manual manipulation of soft body tissues, muscle, connective tissue, tendons, and ligaments to enhance health and well-being.
It involves manually working on the horse’s body with pressure, structured or unstructured, stationary, moving, tension, motion, or vibration.
Massage therapists work to reduce pain, improve movement and restore normal control in animals as a result of musculoskeletal conditions or as part of a maintenance fitness/general health programme
In competitive or working animals, massage may be used as an intrinsic part of the development of the animal athlete. Helping to minimise the risk of injury and optimise performance and potential.
By analysing and assessing posture, movement, and skeletal function, Equine Massage Therapists can help develop holistic treatment plans alongside veterinary treatment. These can often be accompanied by exercise and rehabilitation program
Massage for humans has been documented since 200BC, when it was mentioned in ancient medical manuscripts from China, Persia and Egypt. In the early nineteenth century, Per Henrik Ling from Sweden, was responsible for developing the soft tissue techniques and names of movements that are considered the foundation of all massage modalities, such as effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement and vibration. It was soon realised that massage could heal injuries, relieve pain, reduce stress and enable a deep relaxation.
Today, massage therapy is a highly respected form of holistic healing and practiced across the world. Not only has it developed in the human world, it has also been realised as a valuable profession within the animal world.
Various massage and stretching techniques can be applied, enabling the animal to not only perform to their full potential, but for those who may be having a quieter life, it can keep them supple, comfortable and using themselves correctly in their golden years.
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